Sukta 124

Mantra 1

उषा उच्छन्ती समिधाने अग्ना उद्यन्त्सूर्य उर्विया ज्योतिरश्रेत् । देवो नो अत्र सविता न्वर्थं प्रासावीद्द्विपत्प्र चतुष्पदित्यै ॥

Dawn rises, kindling Agni within us; and the Sun ascending has poured out a wide Light. Here Savitṛ, the god, has now impelled for us the true aim—so that the two-footed and the four-footed in our being may move forward into right fulfillment.

Mantra 2

अमिनती दैव्यानि व्रतानि प्रमिनती मनुष्या युगानि । ईयुषीणामुपमा शश्वतीनामायतीनां प्रथमोषा व्यद्यौत् ॥

She does not violate the divine laws, yet she breaks up the human ages of inertia. Pattern and measure of those who have gone before and of those who return again, Dawn, the first, shines out—renewing the movement of the soul.

Mantra 3

एषा दिवो दुहिता प्रत्यदर्शि ज्योतिर्वसाना समना पुरस्तात् । ऋतस्य पन्थामन्वेति साधु प्रजानतीव न दिशो मिनाति ॥

This daughter of Heaven has appeared before us, clothed in Light, the same in her law from the beginning. She follows well the path of Ṛta; as one who knows, she does not violate the directions of the being.

Mantra 4

उपो अदर्शि शुन्ध्युवो न वक्षो नोधा इवाविरकृत प्रियाणि । अद्मसन्न ससतो बोधयन्ती शश्वत्तमागात्पुनरेयुषीणाम् ॥

She has come into view—pure as a bright breast—and like Nodhās she has made the dear things manifest. Awakening the sleepers as from a home, the most perennial Dawn arrives again among those who return.

Mantra 5

पूर्वे अर्धे रजसो अप्त्यस्य गवां जनित्र्यकृत प्र केतुम् । व्यु प्रथते वितरं वरीय ओभा पृणन्ती पित्रोरुपस्था ॥

In the first half of the mid-world she, the begetter of the Rays, has set forth the sign of knowledge. She widens out into a farther and greater expanse, filling both—resting in the lap of the two Parents.

Mantra 6

एवेदेषा पुरुतमा दृशे कं नाजामिं न परि वृणक्ति जामिम् । अरेपसा तन्वा शाशदाना नार्भादीषते न महो विभाती ॥

Thus she is most abundant for our seeing; she does not choose one kin and reject another. With a stainless body she shines on and on; she does not shrink from the small, nor is she diminished before the great—she is luminous everywhere.

Mantra 7

अभ्रातेव पुंस एति प्रतीची गर्तारुगिव सनये धनानाम् । जायेव पत्य उशती सुवासा उषा हस्रेव नि रिणीते अप्सः ॥

Like one without a brother she comes toward the man; like a climber from the pit she brings the winning of riches. Like a wife desiring her lord, beautifully robed, Dawn smiles as she draws the waters clear—releasing the currents of life for the journey.

Mantra 8

स्वसा स्वस्रे ज्यायस्यै योनिमारैगपैत्यस्याः प्रतिचक्ष्येव । व्युच्छन्ती रश्मिभिः सूर्यस्याञ्ज्यङ्क्ते समनगा इव व्राः ॥

A sister has left the womb for the greater sister, slipping away as if seen face to face. As she dawns wide, with the Sun’s rays she anoints herself—like a dancer well-adorned, she takes on her forms of light.

Mantra 9

आसां पूर्वासामहसु स्वसॄणामपरा पूर्वामभ्येति पश्चात् । ताः प्रत्नवन्नव्यसीर्नूनमस्मे रेवदुच्छन्तु सुदिना उषासः ॥

Of these sister-dawns, in the days, the later one follows after the former. May those Dawns—ancient yet ever new—now rise for us with richness, bringing the good day of the soul.

Mantra 10

प्र बोधयोषः पृणतो मघोन्यबुध्यमानाः पणयः ससन्तु । रेवदुच्छ मघवद्भ्यो मघोनि रेवत्स्तोत्रे सूनृते जारयन्ती ॥

Awaken, O Dawn, the givers who fill with abundance; let the niggardly Paṇis who will not wake fall away. Rise with richness for the bounteous, O rich Dawn; rich for the hymn, O fair-spoken one, making our word grow warm and living.

Mantra 11

अवेयमश्वैद्युवतिः पुरस्ताद्युङ्क्ते गवामरुणानामनीकम् । वि नूनमुच्छादसति प्र केतुर्गृहंगृहमुप तिष्ठाते अग्निः ॥

Behold, this young Dawn from the front yokes the luminous herd, the ruddy ranks of light. Now she has risen wide; the sign of awakening goes forth: Agni, the inner flame of will, stands up at every home within us.

Mantra 12

उत्ते वयश्चिद्वसतेरपप्तन्नरश्च ये पितुभाजो व्युष्टौ । अमा सते वहसि भूरि वाममुषो देवि दाशुषे मर्त्याय ॥

At your rising, even the birds fly forth from their resting, and men who share the father’s portion awaken. With them, you bear here and now abundant delight and wideness, O divine Dawn, for the mortal who offers.

Mantra 13

अस्तोढ्वं स्तोम्या ब्रह्मणा मेऽवीवृधध्वमुशतीरुषासः । युष्माकं देवीरवसा सनेम सहस्रिणं च शतिनं च वाजम् ॥

You are praised with my mantric thought; grow by it, O Dawns that love the offering. By your goddess-help may we win the plenitude of force—rich in thousands and in hundreds.